Quality Collaborations

Bariatric surgery

The Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative improves the quality of care for patients undergoing bariatric surgery in Michigan. This collaboration between Blue Cross, University of Michigan Health System, and 41 hospitals performing bariatric surgery across the state has improved patient care. One hospital in California also participates. There is data on more than 81,000 patients in the registry.

Three times per year the group meets to examine the data and to design and implement changes in patient care that will result in better outcomes for bariatric patients.

Decreased length of hospital stay beyond five days following bariatric surgery by 19 percent (2007-2011)

Decreased post-surgical death rates by 50 percent (2007-2015)

Decreased readmissions by 38 percent (2007 – 2015)

Decreased overall complication rates by 31 percent (2007-2015)

Decreased ED visit rates by 7 percent (2007-2015)

Through anonymous review of gastric bypass surgery videos by MBSC surgeons and linkage with outcomes data, a high correlation between surgical skill and positive outcomes has been suggested. As a result of this important work, a grant has been received from the National Institutes of Health to develop and evaluate a video-based peer coaching program.